PHARMACISTS TO PLAY KEY ROLE AS PLAN B GOES OTC

OCTOBER 01, 2006

The nation's pharmacists will be
in the hot seat when Plan B emergency
contraceptives become available
without a prescription for
women 18 and over. After years of
wrestling with the political and scientific
issues surrounding the controversial
drug, the FDA has agreed
to allow Barr Laboratories' Duramed
subsidiary to begin marketing Plan
B over the counter on a restricted
basis. Women under 18, however,
will continue to require a prescription
for the "morning-after" pill, and
pharmacists will be responsible for
verifying the ages of all patients
seeking the OTC version of the drug.

Under the approach approved by
the FDA, Plan B will be available
only through licensed pharmacies,
and pharmacists will be expected to
keep the drug behind the counter.
Barr also agreed to monitor pharmacists
to ensure that they are
enforcing the age restriction.

Despite the added liability, pharmacy
leaders welcomed the new
responsibilities for pharmacists.
"Pharmacists are uniquely positioned
to help manage access to
emergency contraception under
this unique approach," officials at
the American Pharmacists Association
(APhA) said.

APhA added, however, that pharmacists
who have ethical or religious
objections to the use of emergency
contraception should not be required
to dispense Plan B. "During
the implementation phase of Plan
B's change to OTC status, it will be
important for employers?to develop
systems that support a pharmacist's
ability to opt out of working
with emergency contraception,
while providing a timely alternative
for consumers," the association said.

Visit ePharmacy Times at www.pharmacytimes.com/articleNewsletter.cfm?ID=3815 for a related story
on Plan B.